A lucky group of children from Ilford had the chance to explore the Natural History Museum during a private tour with a senior professor last week, ahead of a funding bid for a new sculpture in the borough.

Ilford Recorder: Senior palaeontologist Adrian Lister with Hannah Chowdhry, Tatyana Ngeze, Tanisha Ngeze and Naomi Chowdhry at the Natural History Museum.Senior palaeontologist Adrian Lister with Hannah Chowdhry, Tatyana Ngeze, Tanisha Ngeze and Naomi Chowdhry at the Natural History Museum. (Image: Archant)

Tatiana Ngeze, Tanisha Ngeze, and Hannah and Naomi Chowdhry explored the fossilized remains of elephants, lions, rhinos and the mammoth skull that was found in Ilford, with palaeontologist Adrian Lister.

The East Ilford Betterment Partnership (EIBP) has outlined a funding application with the Heritage Lottery Fund, that hopes to install a life-sized replica of the mammoth skull in Ilford town centre.

The project, which is being supported by Redbridge Museum, will include a series of workshops for children and adults.

Gerard Greene from Vision Redbridge has also met with the museum’s curator to discuss the potential loan of some of the bones stored in their archives.

Tatiana, nine, said: “I felt like a VIP; we did not have to queue and got to see the private archives which most members of the public never get to see.

“I was so pleased to see our town mentioned by the replica skull in the mammals section.”

Project organiser, Wilson Chowdhry, added: “We are in the process of completing our main application with the help of Redbridge Museum and hope to submit it by September. If our application is successful the project will be undertaken throughout 2014 celebrating the 150th anniversary of Sir Antonio Brady’s excavation.”